Real Time Clock Power Management via Dynamic Pulse Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Real-time clock circuits in electronic devices face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption and extending the life of backup batteries, as they often require high-capacity batteries and may not effectively conserve power when the device is powered down.
Innovation Solution
A real-time clock system that operates in both normal and low power modes, using a clock generator to produce pulses for time tracking and time setting, with mechanisms to separate and prioritize pulses from external clock and time set signals, and to conserve power by disregarding the time set signal during battery backup mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a high capacity backup battery is included to extend battery life, then the battery capacity increases, but the cost of the host device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by enabling the real-time clock to operate in two distinct modes: normal mode with full functionality and battery backup mode with reduced functionality. The system periodically switches between these modes based on power availability, allowing the use of a lower capacity battery while maintaining acceptable operational duration through intelligent power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the clock generator's behavior adaptive based on operating conditions. The clock generator dynamically adjusts its operation - generating separate pulses for each clock signal in normal mode, and ignoring time set signals in battery backup mode - to optimize battery life while maintaining timekeeping accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the real time clock continuously processes time set signals to ensure accurate time tracking, then time tracking accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock generator dynamically adjusts its signal processing behavior based on the operating mode. In battery backup mode, it disregards time set signals to minimize power consumption while maintaining sufficient time tracking accuracy through the clock signal alone. In normal mode, it processes both signals for maximum accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing a reduced functionality mode during battery backup operation. The clock generator performs only essential timekeeping functions using the clock signal, omitting optional time setting operations. This partial operation reduces power consumption while maintaining core time tracking accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If the clock generator generates separate pulses for each clock signal pulse to ensure accurate time tracking, then time tracking precision is improved, but the complexity of the clock generator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock generator's pulse generation behavior is made dynamic based on operating mode. In battery backup mode, it simplifies operation by ignoring time set signals and only responding to clock signals. In normal mode, it generates separate pulses for both signal types to maintain high precision. This dynamic adaptation resolves the complexity-precision tradeoff.
Data Source
AI summary
Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a real time clock are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide a real time clock including a clock generator having a first input connected to a clock signal and a second input connected to a time set signal. The clock generator produces a time change signal at an output of the clock generator. Counters, each adapted to track a different unit of time, are connected to the time change signal. The clock generator is adapted to generate a pulse on the time change signal for each pulse of the time set signal, and to generate separate pulses on the time change signal for consecutive pulses on the clock signal and the time set signal.